Yeonggwang-gun took the initial response to a new outbreak of ‘pine wilt disease’. As trees infected with pine wilt disease occurred in the forests of juksa-ri, baeksu-eup and Seongsan-ri, Daema-myeon, Yeonggwang-gun began taking control measures, including blocking the spread of pine wilt disease.
‘Pine wilt nematode’ is a nematode of about 1mm in size that is parasitic on pine pine trees and has the characteristic of invading and breeding in healthy pine trees according to the insect vector’s movement path. Pine trees affected by ‘Pine wilt disease’ (pine, Japanese pine, Japanese pine, and Japanese pine) show the characteristic that the wilt nematodes that invade inside interfere with the movement of moisture and nutrients, causing the leaves to turn red, droop downward, and dry out.
Accordingly, on the 25th, an emergency central control meeting was held at the pine wilt disease outbreak site with the Korea Forest Service, National Institute of Forest Science, Jeonnam Province, and Yeonjeop City-gun to discuss control strategies and enter into an emergency control system.
To confirm the infection period,cause,and spread route of wilt disease,an epidemiological investigation team composed of experts from the National Institute of Forest Science and other institutions plans to conduct on-site inspections of affected areas and detailed investigations of nearby firewood-using farms.
Yeonggwang-gun plans to pursue complete control measures, including instantly logging dead trees and administering preventive tree injections by March of next year. In addition, to prevent the spread, Baeksu-eup (△Gilyong-ri △Cheonjeong-ri △Nonsan-ri △Haksan-ri △Juksa-ri △Cheonmari △Yangseong-ri △Daejeon-ri △Jisan-ri △Yaksu-ri △Honggok-ri), Daema-myeon (△Wolsan-ri △Namsan-ri) within a 2km radius of the outbreak site △Songjuk-ri △Seongsan-ri △Bokpyeong-ri) and Gunseo-myeon (△Songhak-ri △Deoksan-ri △Namgye-ri △Mangok-ri) are designated as no-export zones for pine trees and the movement of pine trees is fully restricted.
Though, landscaping trees grown at farms, etc. can be moved with restrictions if they receive a ‘non-infection confirmation certificate’.
An official from Yeonggwang-gun said, “We will do our best to thoroughly control pine wilt disease without missing dead trees to prevent further spread of damage from pine wilt disease,” and added, “If pine trees are moved without permission, 1 pc pursuant to the provisions of Article 17 (1) of the Special Act on Pine wilt Disease Control.“We ask for the interest and cooperation of residents regarding the movement of pine trees as they are subject to imprisonment of up to one year or fines of up to 10 million won,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yeonggwang-gun announced that starting November 27, it will pilot run the Hemp Industrial Complex Cultural Center, which was created to improve the residential conditions of workers in the industrial complex and expand insufficient convenience facilities.
The complex cultural center located within the Daema Industrial Complex is a facility built to support cultural and welfare services with a total project cost of KRW 5.4 billion (KRW 2.8 billion in government funds, KRW 900 million in provincial funds, and KRW 1.7 billion in military expenses). The center began operation after completing BF’s certification in July. We have purchased equipment and renovated the internal space.
The complex cultural center, built on two floors above ground with a total floor area of 1,611㎡ (about 480 pyeong), provides cultural facilities and rest areas such as a worker lounge, open cafe, capacity building room, and small library, as well as a multi-purpose auditorium and fitness room for tenant companies. it provides a space where workers and local residents can enjoy daily sports.
On the first floor of the complex cultural center,there will be a worker lounge (office of the resident company council),an operating office,an open cafe,a conference room,and a club room as spaces to support workers.
The second floor is a space where cultural and sports facilities for workers and residents are gathered,and is equipped with a small library,a multi-purpose auditorium,a physical training room,and a capacity building room.
in the multipurpose auditorium, events and lectures with multiple participants can be held, and badminton and table tennis can also be enjoyed.
The fitness room is equipped with exercise equipment such as treadmills, cycles, and Smith machines, allowing you to do everything from aerobic exercise to strength training.
In the capacity building room, customized education programs such as liberal arts, culture and arts will be operated for workers and residents through future demand surveys.
The county plans to officially open the center in February after identifying areas that need improvement, such as facilities and operations, through a pilot operation from November to January of next year.
An official from Yeonggwang-gun said, “We expect that working conditions in the industrial complex will improve by expanding insufficient convenience facilities,” and added, “We will do our best to operate the hemp industrial complex to strengthen its competitiveness by revitalizing the cultural complex.”
Economy Queen Reporter Hana Choi Photo: Yeonggwang-gun
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What are the symptoms of pine wilt disease that tree owners should look out for?
interview Between Time.news Editor and Expert on Pine Wilt Disease
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re addressing a pressing environmental issue: the outbreak of pine wilt disease affecting our forests. With us is Dr. jane Park, an esteemed expert in forest health from the National Institute of Forest Science. Dr. Park, thank you for joining us.
Dr. park: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial we discuss this topic, given the rapid spread of pine wilt disease.
Editor: Let’s dive right in. What exactly is pine wilt disease, and what causes it?
Dr. Park: Pine wilt disease is caused by the pine wilt nematode, a microscopic worm about 1mm in size. It targets pine trees, particularly species like the Japanese pine. The nematodes invade healthy trees, disrupting their moisture and nutrient transport, which leads to the trees wilting and eventually dying.
Editor: That sounds alarming! We recently heard about a large outbreak in Yeonggwang-gun. Can you explain how the local authorities are responding to this crisis?
Dr. Park: Yes, the response in Yeonggwang-gun has been swift. They held an emergency central control meeting involving multiple organizations, including the Korea Forest Service and the National Institute of Forest Science, to strategize control measures. They’ve set up an emergency system to address the outbreak effectively.
Editor: What specific measures are they planning to take?
Dr. Park: Yeonggwang-gun is implementing several key strategies. They are logging the dead trees immediately to prevent further spread and will administer preventive tree injections by March next year. Additionally,certain areas have been designated as no-export zones to limit any movement of infected wood that could spread the disease to other regions.
Editor: A multi-faceted approach. What about the epidemiological investigations? Why are they critically important?
Dr. Park: Understanding the infection’s dynamics is crucial. The investigations aim to identify the infection period, causes, and routes of spread. By conducting on-site inspections and analyzing nearby firewood-using farms,we can gain insights into how the disease proliferates and implement more targeted management strategies.
Editor: That sounds rigorous! Can you tell us more about the characteristics of the trees affected by this disease?
Dr. Park: Absolutely. Infected trees typically display red or drooping leaves, which is a clear sign of distress.The nematodes interfere with the tree’s ability to transport nutrients and moisture, leading to these symptoms. Timely identification is critical as it can mean the difference between saving the tree or allowing further spread.
Editor: How does this outbreak impact the broader environment and ecosystem?
Dr. Park: Pine trees play a vital role in their ecosystems, serving as habitats for various species and contributing to biodiversity. The loss of these trees due to pine wilt disease can disrupt these ecosystems, lead to soil degradation, and create other environmental imbalances. Hence, it’s essential we act quickly.
Editor: Given the current situation, what can the public do to help mitigate the effects of this disease?
Dr. Park: Public awareness is key. People should monitor their local forests for signs of pine wilt disease and report any suspicious tree health issues to local authorities. Additionally, they should avoid moving firewood from infected areas to prevent further spread.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Park, for shedding light on this critical issue. Your insights will certainly help our readers understand the urgency of the situation.
Dr. Park: Thank you for having me. It’s vital we all take part in protecting our forests.
Editor: And to our audience, please stay informed and engaged with your local environments. Together, we can tackle challenges like pine wilt disease head-on. Until next time!